Bob, I just got the opportunity to read your thread about netting, handling and releasing fish. I voted no on your survey. Mike brought up many good points that first need to be addressed before proposing any such rule change.

Here's a few on my own reasons for not supporting such a new rule change at this time.

1) What study shows that a small size net mess does less harm then a larger size net mess? Is the difference because the larger net mess size may make it easer for fish to get more tangled up in? Or is it because the small net mess means less knot contact, with in turn is supposed to mean less scale loss.
2) The finer the mess size, the greater the water drag becomes; more water drags usually relates to more net contact with the fish (especially in faster moving waters). Which one then becomes the worse, net size or net contact?
3) Many rivers that support c&r (almost every river in the state) also do not have much public foot access, which in many cases, makes it very difficult for fishermen to "reach the water". In cases such as this, it would make it almost imposable for fishermen to release his fish without first taking it out of the water. A perfect example, on the Willapa River, over 90% of the fishable river has a "dropped off bank" (like 4-6 feet) which would make it almost impossible for fishermen to even reach his fish for release without first netting it. I understand that most of your guiding is done from your drift boat, and that it would not affect you as much because you can still travel to different locations to bank fish; but what about all the others who do not fish in that way?

Bob, do you really believe that as fishermen, we need more rules and regulations that cannot be enforced? What will be next for our states c&r fishery; no scents, no line size over 6 lb, no wearing of wool gloves, no hooks, no pliers, no abrasive lines (tuff line, etc, etc)? Where is all this heading? Some fish just flat a$$ die after being hooked and fought!

It's my opinion, that we, as fishermen, have a reasonability to tell our fellow fishermen when we see they are handling and releasing fish wrongly. It's been my own personal experience, that most fishermen will accept your advice when you tell them in an informative way that they are wrong. And yes, that is even true on the Cowlitz!

There's a whole lot more going on to the decline of our wild fish besides of how we handle, net or release them. In my opinion, that isn't even a dot on a flies a$$ as to why our steelhead runs are still declining!

I am going to stick my neck out on a limb again and use that saying one more time; it's just "common sense" to release a fish in the water when it is possible, when it not possible, it's just going to get the old net treatment!


Cowlitzfisherman